Sugar Grove Library to expand hours in January

SUGAR GROVE – On Jan. 2, the Sugar Grove Library will see its operating hours expand.

The Sugar Grove Library Board last week approved expanding the library’s hours after patrons were surveyed on what hours they would like to see.

The library is currently open 41 hours a week, and budget constraints prevent the library from being open more than 50 hours a week. The new schedule beginning Jan. 2 will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and 2 to 6 p.m. Sundays.

In addition, the library’s drive-up window will be open from 7 to 10 a.m. Mondays.

The library will be closed on Fridays. It currently is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. It is closed Sundays and Mondays.

“People wanted more weekend hours and also consistent hours,” library director Carol Dolin said. “Friday is our slowest day. Hopefully, we will be able to serve the public better [with the new hours].”

As part of the survey, patrons were asked several questions, including how late they would like the library to stay open, as well as for their priorities on when the library should be open.

The library is able to expand its hours through stretching its resources, Dolin said.

“We’re trying to stretch resources as much as we can, and do what we can with what we have,” she said.

The library would need more money to expand its hours beyond what is set to begin in January, Dolin said. She said the library board has no immediate plans to ask taxpayers for more money through a referendum.